In 2010, Todd
Pletcher and Rudy Rodriguez were strong forces on The New York Racing Association,
Inc. (NYRA) circuit, respectively finishing first and third in the year-end
trainer standings. In Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Toboggan at Aqueduct
Racetrack, the two horsemen will be well represented in the six-furlong dash
that serves as NYRA’s first graded stakes of 2011.

Pletcher, recognized at the Eclipse Awards Monday night as North America’s Outstanding Trainer, has entered a
pair of Repole Stable horses in the Toboggan. That duo, Calibrachoa and Driven
by Success, swept the top two spots in the Gravesend
at Aqueduct on December 18 and form a coupled entry that was installed as the
6-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s race.

The Gravesend was Calibrachoa’s
first start since for Pletcher and Repole, having been claimed by those
connections for $40,000 out of a 4 ¾-length victory at the Big A on November
18. Calibrachoa had previously raced on the lead or just off the pace, but
showed a new dimension in the Gravesend when he rallied from 2 ¼ lengths back
in fifth, en route to a 1 ½-length decision over his stablemate.

“He’s versatile enough that he can show speed if we need
him to, and we know we have options with him,” said Pletcher of the
4-year-old son of Southern Image. “If you look at his record, he’s
always been a consistent horse. He ran a fast race when he was second to Black
Pen [in a $50,000 claiming race at Belmont
Park on October 14], and we were
fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time in the Gravesend. He’s a good-looking, sound horse, and I
can see him stretching out at some point, maybe up to a mile.”

Ramon Dominguez, NYRA’s top rider by wins the past two years and the
2010 Eclipse winner for Outstanding Jockey, will ride Calibrachoa from post 6.

While Calibrachoa is new to the stakes ranks in New
York, Driven by Success has competed in 17 stakes at Aqueduct, Belmont, or Saratoga Race
Course so far in his career, with three black-type victories to his credit. Fifth
in the Toboggan in 2009 and third in this race in 2010, Driven by Success drew
post 3 for this year’s renewal, which Pletcher admits isn’t ideal
for the 6-year-old gelding.

“He’s definitely better when he has drawn outside,”
said Pletcher of Driven by Success, who is cross-entered in Friday’s
$60,000 Mr. International for New York-breds. “Last time we had to hustle
him to the lead [from post 1], but he ran a courageous race.”

Michael Luzzi has the call aboard Driven by Success.

In the Toboggan, Rodriguez will send out Temecula Creek and Endless Circle, the
respective second and third selections on the morning line.

Winless in four stakes races in the summer and early fall, Temecula
Creek returned to the winner’s circle with a 2 ¼-length optional claiming
triumph at Aqueduct on November 25, and followed that effort with a
breakthrough 2 ½-length tally in the Valley Forge at Parx Racing on December 7.
Owned by Steven Speranza and Robert Joscelyn, the 7-year-old has worked twice
since that effort, including a 48 1/5 four-furlong bullet breeze over the inner
track on January 14.

“The morning is different from the afternoon, but I’m
hoping he’ll run his race,” noted Rodriguez. “He always tries
and is an honest horse, and we think he’ll run well.”

Temecula Creek, 3-1 on the morning line, will leave from post 6 under
Cornelio Velasquez.

Vincent S. Scuderi’s and James A. Riccio’s Endless Circle,
who overcame interference to take the Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap on
November 25, will attempt to regain the winning thread after finishing third,
defeated 5 ¾ lengths, in the Gravesend.

“Maybe we ran him back too soon, but he has been working well
since that race,” said Rodriguez.

David Cohen has the call aboard Endless Circle, 7-2 on the morning line,
from post 2.

Independence War returns to New
York after having made five straight starts at Parx
Racing, including a half-length victory over fellow Toboggan entrant Flat Bold
on December 18 in their most recent starts. The Toboggan will be Independence
War’s first race for owner Mat Stables and trainer Patricia Farro, who
claimed the gelded son of Red Bullet for $40,000 last time out.

Angel Arroyo will ride Independence War, 12-1 on the morning line, from
the rail in the Toboggan.

Completing the field are Jack on the Rocks, seventh in the Gravesend following a runner-up effort in the Fall
Highweight, and Fastus Cactus.